No matter where North Carolina’s men’s basketball team plays in the future, the university plans to keep the names of former coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams on the arena and court, respectively.
The Tar Heels currently play at the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center on campus. The playing surface is called Roy Williams Court. The university is considering replacing or renovating the 40-year-old arena, affectionately known as the Dean Dome.
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It has set off a debate among UNC fans. What is not up for debate is the status of the coaching giants among the Tar Heel faithful.
“The University is committed to retaining Coach Smith’s name on the arena and Coach Williams’ name on the court whether we renovate or build new,” a university spokesperson said Monday.
Smith coached the Tar Heels for 36 seasons, winning a then-record 879 games and two national championships. Smith’s name has been on the arena since it opened in 1986.
Williams, who served as an assistant to Smith for a decade before coaching Kansas to more than 400 wins, won 485 games and three national titles in 18 seasons as UNC’s head coach. Williams’ name was added to the court in 2018.
Williams said in a video posted to social media that he wants to keep the arena on campus. He said that was also Smith's wish.
Smith died in 2015 at age 83. Williams, 75, retired in 2021, but is still a fixture at UNC games. UNC head coach Hubert Davis played under Smith and served as an assistant coach under Williams.